Before you arrive, before you even pack your bags at home, one night of your trip is already decided: dinner at the hotel’s historic On The Verandah restaurant. It boasts imaginative reworks of Greek cuisine that, aside from being exquisitely prepared and delicious, can be enjoyed alongside a truly breathtaking view of the Mediterranean.

The island is perfect for careless excursions by foot, bicycle or horse-drawn carriage, which by law is the preferred mode of transport. Back at the hotel pouring over the century-old guestbook after enjoying expertly made cocktails at the Poseidonion’s Library Bar or at its country’s first spa, you might start to feel yourself slipping between the pages as you become a 1920s man or woman of leisure.

Like all the finest hotels in the world, it is a small collection of dedicated people that make this hotel quite so spectacular. Led by the engineer and owner, Antonis Vordonis, the Poseidonion has seen meticulous architectural restoration. From the re-wrought metal fence matching the style that encircled wealthy Athenians 100 years ago, to the ancient-looking guestbooks in the lounge that they used to write in, the Poseidonion is truly dedicated to the memory of what came before. But don’t let the nostalgia fool you.

The Poseidonion doesn’t just have its finger on the pulse of Spetses island life; it is the beating heart itself. It has single-handedly created the first-of-its-kind classic yacht race, along with its very own marathon. It regularly pitches in organising open-air concerts on balmy summer nights and its breakfast jams are made by the local women of Spetses. Life on the island is wholly intertwined with life at the Poseidonion.

Boutique and Luxury Hotels Spetses